Shellfish Mission

Our mission is to manage, protect and enhance the natural treaty shellfish resources to Tribal members in a way that preserves the species for seven generations to come.

The Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe has depended upon shellfish as a source of food and for trade or income for thousands of years. Clams, crab, oysters, shrimp and many other species were readily available for harvest year around. The ease with which large amounts could be harvested, cured, and stored for later consumption made shellfish an important source of nutrition. Shellfish has also played a central role in tribal gatherings – from naming ceremonies and funerals to elder honorings and potlatches. During these ceremonies shellfish was steamed over a bed of white-hot rocks, or cooked on sticks over a fire. The evidence of this rich harvest remains in the shell piles – or “kitchen” – of coastal native village sites found along the shores of Puget Sound.